The Origin of "Hell"

In this section, we will examine hell's origins, as men have translated
it in our Bibles - for those interested in a fuller study into scriptural
and historic realities. Those having been raised believing in hell (similar
to a growing number of Christians who are also now rejecting it) may be
interested in its roots. Many people from young ages are disciplined to
receive and abide by doctrinal creeds before opening a Bible. Many react
in anger at the mere suggestion that God may not actually abandon his
creation to an eternal hellhole of pain and defeat. Imagine that

Nevertheless, truth will always withstand scrutiny, and it reveals depraved
perversions within church traditions, which run contrary to God's deep
love and perfection in his workings. They do not know the power of God.
Not only is the very concept of a demonic house of terror unscriptural,
abhorrent and outright sadistic, it solicits the lie that justice cannibalizes
love. How many times will someone say "God is love, but he
is also just" as though the two must be mutually exclusive? This
shows what a mess the hell doctrine is.

"Hell" is neither a Hebrew or a Greek word (both Old and New
Testaments were written in those languages), nor did it primarily indicate
"a place of torment." Biblical translators actually derived
it from a secular German word - spelled hel - meaning nothing more
than concealed or covered. The concept of a demon regulated
horror-house was indeed derived from that word, but it actually evolved
from Teutonic mythology.

Not only is hell an ancient pagan tradition (not at all unique to Christianity),
but the ancient Israelites did not understand death that way according
to the Holy Scripture. This is why modern Bible translations are
completely evicting that word from the Old Testament! Now, why would any
Bible translation seek to remove a word unless it did not belong there
in the first place? Because this disgusting fable, originated from a place
other than God's Holy Word - yet was craftily slipped in by the dogma
motivated church of ages past.

Example: as demonstrated below, the King James Version erratically
assigns two meanings ("hell" and "the grave")
to one Hebrew word: "sheol" (pronounced showl). How many
minds have been influenced by this vulgar, hypocritical manipulation?
Do "hell" and "the grave" mean the same thing? Ask
the church, ask anyone, and they will say "of course not!" In
fact, open a modern Bible, and you will find they have all silently eliminated
this deceit! How have they repaired this glaring contradiction? Not by
translating sheol as hell consistently. Quite the opposite. They fixed
the problem by contradicting the King James Version outright, and eliminating
"hell" from the Old Testament altogether!

But, unfamiliar to the Christian majority, the word "hell,"
in the entire Bible was actually translated from four unique words: Sheol, Gehenna (a valley in Jerusalem used for dumping refuse), Hades, and Tartarus. Below are a few charts detailing these
words to demonstrate how they were translated. For anyone new to the Bible,
the NIV stands for New International Version, one of the
most popular modern Bibles used in churches worldwide.

Here is an example: the King James translators
rendered the Hebrew word sheol as "the grave" 31 times, but,
they translated it as "hell" 31 times. Now, the the Israelites
believed that everyone - good or bad, great or small - goes to sheol when they die. Conveniently, as evidenced in the two exemplary
scriptures below, the word was rendered "grave" when God's people
were said to go to Sheol, and "hell" at other times.

Genesis 44:31
It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that
he (Jacob) will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs
of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave (sheol).

Proverbs 9:18
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are
in the depths of hell (sheol).

This section of this site is not intended to explain the meanings of "sheol"
"hades" "gehenna" or "tartarus." This page
is more intended to provide translation charts to compare between the
King James version of the Bible, and other versions. For an excellent
study regarding the origins of the "hell" concept, I have provided
these excellent papers by on the subject. These links will open a window
to www.bible-truths.com:

The tables and commentary below were created by Gary Amirault of Tentmaker Ministries, modified and and reformatted for this website.

Translation of the word "Sheol" in
the Old Testament

1611 KJV

King James Version

NIV

NKJV

YLT

CLT

Latin Vulgate

Gn. 37:35

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Gn. 42:38

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Gn. 44:29

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Gn. 44:31

graue

grave

grave

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Nu. 16:30

pit

pit

grave *2

pit

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Nu. 16:33

pit

pit

grave

pit

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Dt. 32:22

hell

lowest hell

death

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferni

1Sa. 2:6

graue

grave

grave

grave

Sheol

unseen

infernum

2Sa. 22:6

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferi

1Ki. 2:6

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferos

1Ki. 2:9

graue

grave

grave

grave

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Job 7:9

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Job 11:8

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferno

Job 14:13

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferno

Job 17:13

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferus

Job 17:16

pit

pit

death *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

infernum

1611 KJV

King James Version

NIV

NKJV

YLT

CLT

Latin Vulgate

Job 21:13

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferna

Job 24:19

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Job 26:6

hell

hell

Death *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Ps. 6:5

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferno

Ps. 9:17

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernum*11

Ps. 16:10

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 18:5

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 30:3

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 31:17

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

n/v

Ps. 49:14

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 49:14*5

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 49:15

graue

grave

grave

grave

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 55:15

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

n/v

Ps. 86:13

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

n/v

Ps. 88:3

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 89:48

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

n/v

1611 KJV

King James Version

NIV

NKJV

YLT

CLT

Latin Vulgate

Ps. 116:3

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

n/v

Ps. 139:8

hell

hell

depths *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

n/a

Ps. 141:7

graues

grave

grave *2

grave

*6

unseen

n/a

Pr. 1:12

graue

grave

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Pr. 5:5

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Pr. 7:27

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferi

Pr. 9:18

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferni

Pr. 15:11

hell

hell

Death *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Pr. 15:24

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferno

Pr. 23:14

hell

hell

death *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferno

Pr. 27:20

hell

hell

Death*2

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Pr. 30:16

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Ec. 9:10

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferos

SS. 8:6

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferus

Is. 5:14

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Is. 14:9

hell

hell *9

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernus

1611 KJV

King James Version

NIV

NKJV

YLT

CLT

Latin Vulgate

Is. 14:11

hell

grave

grave

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Is. 14:15

hel*10

hell

grave

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Is. 28:15

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferno

Is. 28:18

hell

hell

grave

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferno

Is. 38:10

graue

grave

death*2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferi

Is. 38:18

graue

grave

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Is. 57:9

hell

hell

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Ez. 31:15

graue

grave

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferos

Ez. 31:16

hell

hell

grave

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Ez. 31:17

hell

hell

grave

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Ez. 32:21

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

inferni

Ez. 32:27

hell

hell

grave

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Ho. 13:14

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

mortis

Ho. 13:14*5

graue

grave

grave *2

grave

Sheol

unseen

inferne

Am. 9:2

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernum

Jon. 2:2

hell

hell *9

grave *2

Sheol

Sheol

unseen

inferni *12

Hab. 2:5

hell

hell

grave *2

hell

Sheol

unseen

infernus

Key: KJV = King James Version; NKJV = New King James Version; NIV = New International
Version

*2 the footnote says Hebrew Sheol *3 note says sheol or hades *4 note says Hebrew to Sheol *5 the word sheol occurs twice in the verse. *6 Saul, not Sheol *7 Margin: " that is, from destruction" *8 NASB: Sheol, NRSV: grave *9 marg. or, The grave {The New Englishman's Hebrew Concordance,
p.1220}. *10spelled
with one L in the original*11 verse 18 in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims Bibles. *12 verse 3 in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims Bibles. *13 verse 3 in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims Bibles. *** The Latin Vulgate is one of the earliest translations of
the Hebrew and Greek scripture used before the King James Version
was translated in 1611.

KJV= King James Version NKJV= New King James Version YLT = Young's Literal Translation Ro = Rotherham's Emphasized Bible NIV = New International Version (one of the most
read modern translations in the world)

N/A = Not Available. The word does not appear in these verses in
the Vulgate.
N/V = No Verse. The verse does not appear in the Vulgate.

*1 prop. unseen {Strong's #86}*2 margin "Or,hell" *3 margin "Or,hell" in some 1611 printings. Some printings
had "grave" in the text and "Or, hell" in the margin. Clearly
some peculiar intentional hanky panky going on. *4spelled with
one L in the original*5 Capitalized in the original *7 footnote says Greek Hades *8 Hades] The unseen World, the adobe of departed spirits,
In the A.V. both this word and 'Gehenna' are rendered 'Hell.'
Each occurs twelve times. In this translation the two words are
everywhere kept distinct.

**In the King James Version, 1 Corinthians 15:55 reads:
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hades),
where is thy victory?"

This is a reference to the Old Testament: Hosea 13:34: "I
will ransom them from the power of the grave (sheol); I
will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave (sheol), I will be thy destruction: repentance shall
be hid from mine eyes."

Translation of the word "Gehenna" in
the New Testament

1611 KJV

KJV & NIV & NKJV

Geneva

NASB

YLT

Vulgate

Mt. 5:22

hell fire

hell

hell *3

hell *6

Gehenna

gehennae

Mt. 5:29

hell

hell

hell

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Mt. 5:30

hell

hell

hell

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Mt. 10:28

hell

hell

hell

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Mt. 18:9

hell fire

hell

hell fire

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Mt. 23:15

hell

hell

hell

hell

Gehenna

gehennae

Mt. 23:33

hell

hell

hell *4

hell

Gehenna

gehennae

Mk. 9:43

hell

hell

hell

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Mk. 9:45

hell

hell

hell

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Mk. 9:47

hel
fire*1

hell

hellfire

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Lk. 12:5

hell

hell

hell

hell

Gehenna

gehennam

Js. 3:6*2

hell

hell

hell *5

hell

Gehenna

gehenna

Jeremiah
prophesied that one day this land - a garbage dump in Jerusalem
called Gehenna - would one day be holy unto the Lord: "'The
time is coming,' says the LORD, 'when all Jerusalem will be rebuilt
for me, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. A measuring
line will be stretched out over the hill of Gareb and across to
Goah. And the entire area--including the graveyard and ash
dump in the valley (that's Gehenna), and all the fields out
to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the Horse Gate--will
be holy to the LORD.'" (Jer. 31:38-40)

Many people claim that this Gehenna (otherwise known as the
Valley of Hinnom) represents a hell of eternal suffering. Now,
if Gehenna really symbolizes "hell" (though it really
does not) and Gehenna will be holy to God, then wouldn't it also
make sense to say that hell will someday be holy to God?

*1spelled with
one L in the original*2 The only other person in the N.T. besides
Jesus who uses this term Gehenna. *3 Margin reads: "Whereas we read here, Hell, it is in the
text itself, Gehenna, which is an Hebrew word made of two, and it
asmuch to say, as the Valley of Hinnon, which otherwise Hebrews
called Tophet : It was a place where the Israelites were went most
cruelly to sacrifice their children to false gods, whereupon it
was taken for a place appointed to torment the reprobates in Jerem.
7:31. *4 Margin reads: "Look Chap 5. Verse 22." *5 Margin reads: "So the Grecians called the deep dungeons
under the earth, which should be appointed to torment the souls
of the wicked in." *6 note says Gr., Gehenna

Translation of the word "Tartarus"
in the New Testament

1611 KJV

KJV, NKJV

Geneva

NIV

NRSV

YLT & CLT

Roth

Vulgate

2Pt. 2:4*1

hell

hell

hell

hell *2

hell *3

Tartarus

lowest hades

tartarum

*1 The only places in the Bible where this term
appears *2 note says Greek tartarus *3 note says Greek tartaroo

The Perpetrators

Introduction: The following quotes from
early philosophers and Church Fathers prove where the modern concept
of a "Hell of everlasting punishment" came from. The quotes
also expose those who are still perpetuating those concepts. The
first group of quotes represents proof regarding the originators
of the concept. The second group of quotations are from Christian
leaders who have been instrumental in perpetuating these diabolical
thoughts.

Polybius, the ancient historian, says: "Since the
multitude is ever fickle, full of lawless desires, irrational passions
and violence, there is no other way to keep them in order but by
the fear and terror of the invisible world; on which account our
ancestors seem to me to have acted judiciously, when they contrived
to bring into the popular belief these notions of the gods, and
of the infernal regions." B. vi 56.

Strabo, the geographer, says: "The multitude are
restrained from vice by the punishments the gods are said to inflict
upon offenders, and by those terrors and threatenings which certain
dreadful words and monstrous forms imprint upon their minds...For
it is impossible to govern the crowd of women, and all the common
rabble, by philosophical reasoning, and lead them to piety, holiness
and virtue - but this must be done by superstition, or the fear
of the gods, by means of fables and wonders; for the thunder, the
aegis, the trident, the torches (of the Furies), the dragons, &c.,
are all fables, as is also all the ancient theology. These things
the legislators used as scarecrows to terrify the childish multitude."
Geog., B. I

Tertullian (considered by many to be the father of modern church doctrine)
"At that greatest of all spectacles, that last and eternal
judgment how shall I admire, how laugh, how rejoice, how exult,
when I behold so many proud monarchs groaning in the lowest abyss
of darkness…"

Gerhard"The Blessed will see their friends and relations
among the damned as often as they like but without the least of
compassion.”

Charles Spurgeon(Commonly called the "Prince
of Preachers" for being a preacher of great eloquence) "I
further believe, although certain persons deny it, that the influence
of fear is to be exercised over the minds of men and that it ought
to operate upon the mind of the preacher himself."

Thomas Aquinas "That the saints may enjoy their beatitude
more thoroughly, and give more abundant thanks for it to God, a
perfect sight of the punishment of the damned is granted them"

Jeremy Taylor "Husbands shall see their wives, parents
shall see their children tormented before their eyes…the bodies
of the damned shall be crowded together in hell like grapes in a
wine-press, which press on another till they burst…"

Richard Baxter "It is not a terrible thing to a wretched
soul, when it shall lie roaring perpetually in the flames of hell,
and the God of mercy himself shall laugh at them; when…God
shall mock them instead of relieving them; when none in heaven or
earth can help them but God, and he shall rejoice over them in their
calamity ." – (The Saint's Everlasting Rest”
1846)

Reverend J. Furniss, C.S.S.R "The fifth dungeon is
the red hot oven. The little child is in the red hot oven. Hear
how it screams to come out; see how it turns and twists itself about
in the fire. It beats its head against the roof of the oven. It
stamps its little feet on the floor." (The Sight of Hell
- Quoted from Christ Triumphant by Thomas Allin)

Reverend
E.B. Pusey, D.D. "Gather in one, in your mind, an
assembly of all those men and women, from whom, whether in history
or in fiction, your memory most shrinks, gather in mind all that
is loathsome, most revolting * * * conceive the fierce, fiery
eyes of hate, spite, frenzied rage, ever fixed on thee, looking
thee through and through with hate * * * hear those yells of blaspheming
concentrated hate, as they echo along the lurid vault of hell;
everyone hating everyone * * * Yet a fixedness in that state in
which the hardened malignant sinner dies, involves, without any
further retribution of God, this endless misery." (Quoted
from Christ Triumphant by Thomas Allin)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Voltaire "Those who can make you believe absurdities
can make you commit atrocities."